357 wadcutters?

Yotarunner

Yotarunner

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i am loading for my rossi 357 and am looking to find a good hard hitting short range gopher load. i tried out some powdercoated 158gr semi wadcutters today and they worked pretty good but i really think the performance could be better with a high speed full wadcutter. the only catch with loading wadcutters im finding is that all the loads listed are for revolver accuracy in a 38spc case and im looking for high velocity in a rifle with a 357 case. i currently load lee 148dewc in 38 spc and they dont carry the oomf that im looking for so i guess my question is... have you ever tried shooting wadcutters at high speeds and what loads did/would you use?
 
wadcutters are just not designed for high speed. Lee's Modern Reloading has a few loads listed at over 1000fps, but I think leading of the barrel will occur.

6.7gr Herco - 1510
6.4 gr Unique - 1465
5.5gr Bulleye -1475
5.1gr Greebdot - 1310
4.6gr Reddot - 1300

All abv are listed as max loads.

Cheers
 
You might want to try the plated wadcutters that Campro? makes if you are trying to drive them faster than normal. Or powder coated of course.

That should get you a few hundred fps more but I wouldn't be able to guess how much.
 
Tex Critter said:
wadcutters are just not designed for high speed. Lee's Modern Reloading has a few loads listed at over 1000fps, but I think leading of the barrel will occur.

Cheers
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Awesome thanks!. I guess i should have added that i will be powdercoating these. If not for powdercoat i would not be trying these but i figured since its working so well with my other bullets i could work up an inexpensive gopher load.
 
Big. The 357 can be a little light but until i can afford a proper close range hammer it will have to do. I would prefer what my friend uses for close up work seen here next to a gopher skull . At 2300fps with a hard cast 410 gr bullet the 500/416NE is idealy the perfect medicine for up close gopher work.
 
vagrantviking said:
You might want to try the plated wadcutters that Campro? makes if you are trying to drive them faster than normal. Or powder coated of course.

That should get you a few hundred fps more but I wouldn't be able to guess how much.
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Campro only make a hollow base wad-cutter. A powder charge to get it going that fast would probably blow the skirts right off of it - been there, done that as I was working up a load. He's best off sticking with double ended wad-cutters.
 
Yeah, I'd think if you try pushing any lead bullet fast you're just asking for leading - I suggest either plated or a gas-check. Never seen a gas-check wadcutter...
 
I loaded some of those 148 grain target wadcutters in a 38 Special case, 3.8 grains Titegroup, and a c.o.l. of 1.495. Not a book load, so for informational purpose only* disclaimer. I've used these in a Handi rifle. While not exactly smoking, they seem alright for a yard plinker. My buddy shot my chronograph, so no actual velocity to give you, but they go bang with no crack, so SWAG is less than 1250 fps?
 
Man this thread sure takes me back 40 yrs ago when there was no CFO's or range approval Nazi around every corner to a time of wondering around many pastures with my NM Blackhawk and buddy with his Super Blackhawk...both of us using full wadcutter target ammo to tumble a gopher or two. I've shot gophers with .223, 22-250, 25-06 and 300 WM, of course they all disintegrate any gopher you hit... but nothing "bowling pins" a gopher like a full wadcutter from a .44mag-even at target ammo "non leading" velocity, a 40 yrd shot can end up in a 60 yrd recovery walk quite often.
 
one big issue with wad cutters in a lever action is they dont cycle well at all. in my winchester lever i load 158 grain semi RN or SWC, plated. i use a federal small pistol magnum primer, and 14.9 gr of 2400. i have them moving a little over 1800fps. they'll do a gohper no problem
 
As someone else said I myself would just get some plated bullets in the 158 gr weight and load them up to 1500 fps or so . get the flat point ones. I have shot many groundhogs in the past and I perur not to have to keep shooting them to kill them . one shot . I've used a 308 12 gauge 6x5x55 223 44mag & a 22 on them .
 
VanMan said:
Campro only make a hollow base wad-cutter. A powder charge to get it going that fast would probably blow the skirts right off of it - been there, done that as I was working up a load. He's best off sticking with double ended wad-cutters.
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Load them upside down. Makes a heck of a hollow point.
 
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